I had choir rehearsal earlier tonight, during which my wonderful director was talking to us about phrasing and musicality and such, said something that struck me as a new concept:
"Don't ever just sing."
Don't ever JUST sing. Ever. You don't have to be a singer to know how often people JUST sing. We'll be walking around mindlessly singing the words to a song that is stuck in our head, or halfway singing along with the radio in the car. Even the church worship leaders do it sometimes- they've sung a particular song so many times that it loses meaning. The words aren't sung with any emotion or conviction anymore. They evoke no response from the singers or the listeners. The same thing happens with certain prayers, bible verses, blessings... sadly, it happens with a lot of things in church.
Not just church though. A lot of things in life become routine and mindless. We don't have any feeling in regards to many of our activities. I think that needs to change. Don't ever just sing. Don't ever just ____.
Teach
Learn
Play
Create
Eat
Give
Buy
Live
Do you get what I'm saying here? When a choir sings with a true idea of the lyrics, when they put emotion into their voices- the effect can move an audience to tears. Think about what would happen if you put that much feeling into everything you did (I don't think it would be too hard, let's face it, we're emotional beings). Let yourself feel. Be motivated by something. ANYTHING.
If you're going to study, study with a hunger for knowledge and understanding. If you're going to run, run to win. If you're going to donate money, do it because of passion for the cause, not obligation. If you're going to teach, teach in such a way that you convey all the emotion you feel for the subject. If you're going to eat, sleep, or receive any other gift, be THANKFUL.
Even with things that you don't choose to do- do them with a desire to grow and mature. Do your best, because you'll be stronger when it's over. They are the tasks you've been given, do them to glorify God.
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
"Don't ever just sing."
Don't ever JUST sing. Ever. You don't have to be a singer to know how often people JUST sing. We'll be walking around mindlessly singing the words to a song that is stuck in our head, or halfway singing along with the radio in the car. Even the church worship leaders do it sometimes- they've sung a particular song so many times that it loses meaning. The words aren't sung with any emotion or conviction anymore. They evoke no response from the singers or the listeners. The same thing happens with certain prayers, bible verses, blessings... sadly, it happens with a lot of things in church.
Not just church though. A lot of things in life become routine and mindless. We don't have any feeling in regards to many of our activities. I think that needs to change. Don't ever just sing. Don't ever just ____.
Teach
Learn
Play
Create
Eat
Give
Buy
Live
Do you get what I'm saying here? When a choir sings with a true idea of the lyrics, when they put emotion into their voices- the effect can move an audience to tears. Think about what would happen if you put that much feeling into everything you did (I don't think it would be too hard, let's face it, we're emotional beings). Let yourself feel. Be motivated by something. ANYTHING.
If you're going to study, study with a hunger for knowledge and understanding. If you're going to run, run to win. If you're going to donate money, do it because of passion for the cause, not obligation. If you're going to teach, teach in such a way that you convey all the emotion you feel for the subject. If you're going to eat, sleep, or receive any other gift, be THANKFUL.
Even with things that you don't choose to do- do them with a desire to grow and mature. Do your best, because you'll be stronger when it's over. They are the tasks you've been given, do them to glorify God.
I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
